Manchester City Finally Confirms Signing of Eliaquim Mangala

Manchester City has today confirmed the signing of France and Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala nearly three weeks after the club released a video of the player being interviewed as a City footballer.

Mangala, 23, has impressed many in Porto since his move from Standard Liege, having a standout season last year for the Portuguese side.

The fee, widely reported to be in the region of £32million, has seen the central defender move from Portugal to Manchester, reuniting him with team mate Fernando. He will look to cement a place in Manchester City’s back line, which often looked frail without Vincent Kompany’s presence including City’s woeful performance against Arsenal on Sunday in the Community Shield.

Mangala has made 3 appearances for France and made the French World Cup squad, though failed to make any appearances in Brazil.

The Frenchman said of the move: “City is a top club in Europe. For me, it was an important step to leave Porto and join Manchester City in order to continue my progress. I want to win titles and I believe I can do this. I am ambitious and this is why I am here.

“I’m very happy to come to England because for me, the Premier League is the best league in the world. It is a very intense and very aggressive competition. There are plenty of goals, so it is also really nice to watch and I can’t wait to get started!”

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who spilled the details of the transfer in a pre-match interview for yesterday’s Community Shield, said: “I’m delighted to have added a player of Eliaquim’s quality in the squad ahead of the new season.

“He is already a fine player but in my opinion, he has all of the mental, physical, technical and tactical attributes to become one of Europe’s very best defenders.

“Eliaquim is a player I believe will make an immediate impact in the Premier League, thanks to his physicality, his reading of the game and quality on the ball.

“I think he will prove to be a great signing for us.”

He will face competition from Martin Demichelis and Matija Nastasic for a starting place alongside captain Vincent Kompany, though the centre back position was perhaps an area City looked a little short last year.